mobanmarketBROOKLYN, NY—Tensions were high at a town hall Monday night over a proposal to build a pair of 13-story apartment buildings in Windsor Terrace, with neighbors cheering and booing at the developers and their peers.
The town hall started with a presentation of the developer’s plan to rezone the U-shaped lot at 441 and 467 Prospect Avenue and turn it into a pair of towers with more than 240 apartments combined.
Of the apartments built, 61 would be reserved for affordable housing, developers say.
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The lot currently houses a longstanding industrial laundry plant. In honor of the site’s history, the 13-story development project is titled Arrow Linen Supply, Inc., the same name as the company that operates there.
Hundreds crammed into the Holy Name Church in Windsor Terrace to share their opinions on the pending development with Community Board 7, the developers, Assemblymember Robert Carroll and Councilmember Shahana Hanif.
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Carroll voiced his disapproval for the Arrow Linen development plan at the meeting, while Hanif told the group that her office has no official position yet and is seriously exploring all options.
How ‘City Of Yes’ Could Factor In
The vocal Housing Not Highrises group sued last week to prevent the city from starting the rezoning review process until the City Council votes on Mayor Eric Adams’ sweeping rezoning reform plan, but a judge ruled last week that the review process could proceed.
The plan, called “City of Yes,” is a pending rezoning package to incentivize developers to build “a little more housing in every neighborhood,” according to its website.
If passed, the initiative could allow developers to build 19 floors instead of 13 at Arrow Linen in exchange for a larger quantity of affordable units.
The Arguments
“I don’t like this idea. It’s okay to build more housing but not 13 or 19 stories,” South Slope renter and Housing Not Highrises supporter Anne Burke told Patch while waiting for the meeting to start. “It would put a huge hit on the neighborhood. Sewage, garbage, everything.”
Several members from Housing Not Highrises said they found a charitable developer, Catholic Charities, who said building more affordable housing at this site on a much smaller, seven-story footprint would be possible.
But, the charity said the Arrow Linen property owners were not interested in selling the site to them.
“There’s no way anyone can force Arrow to sell to anyone in particular, but if this rezoning application is approved, this solution will not be possible,” Jay Goldberg, a member of Housing Not Highrises, said about the plan for the smaller building.
However, supporters of the current Arrow Linen proposal say this kind of project is critical to address a dire affordability crisis in New York City.
“We need all kinds of housing,” Brooklynite Douglas Hanau told Patch, while handing out signs that said “I Support Building Homes.” “Everybody talks about a housing crisis, but when it comes to supporting a proposal that will address the housing crisis, many people don’t want to do it.”
Arrow Linen developers said Housing Not Highrises doesn’t have firm plans to develop more affordable housing at this site.
“Housing not Highrises has no interest in seeing any housing built, period,” Michael Woloz, an Arrow Linen spokesperson said. “They want to maintain a status quo which has worked well for a handful of wealthy homeowners but has only exacerbated a housing crisis that has shut out, and pushed out, families and others that wish to live in this vibrant community.”
What’s Next
The public hearing will continue virtually on Sept. 12 on Zoom.
Community Board 7 will vote on whether to approve the rezoning put forth by Arrow Linen on Sept. 18.
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